Disclaimer:  Anything and everything Star Wars belongs to George Lucas and I am making no money from this.   I do not intend any infringement but only wish to entertain myself and hopefully a few others with my rantings. 

Summary:  After defeating the Emperor, Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker become apprentices of Darth Vader and begin their reign of turmoil and destruction on the galaxy, but internal chaos and power struggles could ultimately mean the end of all three of them. 

Timeline/Setting:  Set sometime after and alternate ending Return of the Jedi, during which Vader destroys the Emperor to take took over the Empire itself, and is joined by Luke and Mara who are both around twenty years of age. Obviously, this is a completely AU fic since the timeline and storyline are different then pro fic. 

Rating:  X for extreme situation, violence.

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Triumvirate: Commonly used to describe a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, can also be used to describe three different military leaders who all claim to be the sole leader.

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Triumvirate
By Sherry

Chapter 1

As the Star Destroyer hung effortlessly in the vast blackness of space, the leader of the Empire ignored everyone around him except the two-member team who had just returned from their mission to the surface of the planet they now orbited above. Standing on the circular platform that rose just above the heads of the workers around it, Darth Vader berated the man and woman he could barely keep from striking down for their failures, even if one of them was his own son.

"You both took unnecessary risks," the black giant accused, his fist clenched and shaking in the air in front of the two who, after the Emperor’s timely death, had joined him in his dark domination of the galaxy. The tone was the same it always was, dictated by the mechanical apparatus Vader wore, but there was no doubt that fury was behind each word. His entire body shook with anger, prompting the crewmembers of his flagship to hurriedly busy themselves with tasks as far from the Dark Lord as they could.

But there was no surprise from any of them when the young female team member retaliated against the verbal reprimand, her own temper as legendary as that of the Sith Lord she had sworn her allegiance to. "The only chance I took," Mara Jade hissed back in her defense as her thumb jabbed toward the blond haired, black clad man beside her, "was going back to rescue your son."

"Now wait a minute," Lord Skywalker began, his hand reaching out to roughly turn the woman he had been forced into partnership with to fully face him, dodging the sting of the thick braid of her hair as he did so. Angry glare and rising temper just as deadly as his female combatant, Luke gave both free reign as he dealt with who he had considered to be a threat and a nuisance for far too long now. "That is not what happened,” he hissed, eyes blazing as bright as his fury was.

Jerking her arm free, Mara stared down the man that had usurped her place as Lord Vader's right hand, creating contempt for the son of Vader that she did little to hide.  After helping Vader overthrow the Emperor, this son was not supposed to have been a part of their new arrangement and it infuriated her ever time she looked at the blond man. “I located our target, I eliminated the target and then I had to come and save your backside," she argued, making sure to stress that she was the one and not Luke who had carried out the mission their Master had given them.

"And who do you think was taking care of all the guards so you could eliminate the target?" Luke fired back, having had enough of Mara's accusatory stares and disregard for his own accomplishments during this mission. She had never liked him and never would but she needed to learn her place in this new regime.  "And I didn't need you to save my backside or any other part of me," he growled, his own anger finally becoming unhinged. "I was only holding off the guards until you finished and then I could easily get away."

"Sure you were," Mara sneered, her hands going to her hips as she taunted him not only in front of his father, Lord Vader, but in front of all the crew who tried to seem as if they were doing their duties about the Executor but were still listening to every word with greedy ears. "I'm sure you could have handled all this all by yourself, Lord Skywalker," she drew his given title out, showing him exactly how little she thought of him having it.

Feeling a spike in anger from the elder Skywalker, Mara turned back to the black giant who was still seething at them both, the half man, half machine who had proved to be a much more powerful Master than her old one. "I will do better next time, my Master," Mara conceded, her voice showing just enough respect to keep her in good graces. Don't be suicidal, she reminded herself, recognizing she could only push the son so far in front of the father. Pivoting her body, Mara gave Luke one last scornful glare as she stepped off the bridge platform and made her way down the long, narrow walkway that lead from the Executor's bridge to the set of turbolifts at the far end, interrogation rooms running along each side of it.

Taking a shuddering breath that reeked of anger, Luke's eyes snapped from Mara's retreating back to the reflective black vision plates of his father's suit as the mechanical voice rang out, once again scolding him in front of all the crew. "If you cannot control Mara Jade, then perhaps I need to do it for you."

Blue eyes burned with intense anger and shame at the sarcastic reprimand.  His cheeks flushing, Luke allowed the anger to simmer over and begin to fill his body completely, exactly as his father had taught him. "I'll handle Mara myself," each word was spat from between tightly clenched teeth.

“See that you do,” his thinly gloved hand snaking out to take hold of Luke's upper arm, Vader's leathered fingers dug into his son's arm as he pulled him a step closer.  "Or I’ll take care of you both," he insisted, fingers squeezing a bit more tightly just before he released his son and turned away, barking out orders to the dedicated workers he towered above.

Eyes narrowing at the back his father had turned to him, Luke could still feel the sting of embarrassment all over his body. Stiff with rage, Luke pivoted on his heel to do exactly as he promised; his eyes seeking out anyone who dared meet his gaze and risk his wrath. Finding no one to dissipate his anger on, Luke's hands clenched open and shut as he briskly covered the few steps of the elevated bridge his father was partial to commanding from. His eyes already on the figure who sashayed away as if nothing were wrong; Luke hurried his pace down the long walkway behind his nemesis. 

Mara Jade, Luke roared through the Force, the mental communication between them as easy as spoken words, as he closed in on the figure who had just stepped inside the newly arrived lift that would take her from the bridge to the bowels of the Executor.

His feet picked up the pace and the sound of his boots clicked faster on the metal plating, making the crew members beneath the grated walkway and in the flanking interrogation rooms even more aware of his anger. Do not run from me, Luke warned her as Mara turned in the lift to gaze back at the man she despised above all others.

The anger in his words almost physically stinging her mind, Mara knew she had pushed Lord Skywalker further than she ever had before but she savored the feel of his chaotic fury brushing over her.  She leaned against the back of the turbolift, knowing wouldn't be able to catch her in time. Not that she wasn't ready to face him, they both knew the time had come, but it was still to her enjoyment to show Lord Skywalker that he did not command where and when she went.  He did not command Mara Jade at all. Perfect teeth flashed as lightly painted lips curled in amusement, the lift doors already beginning to close before Luke even got close.

Good-bye Skywalker, she sent the mocking words along the tendril of energy they shared just as the doors completely closed.

Mara couldn't help but a small laugh at the murderous rage she had seen on the rapidly approaching Luke Skywalker's face, at least until the door had closed in that face, the face of Vader’s son. Second in command, she laughed aloud at how Luke saw and referred to himself since they all three had overthrown Palpatine, his arrogance at claiming superiority over her both amusing at times but largely infuriating.  Her laugh died as the lift unexpectedly shook, went perfectly still then began to groan as if it were in physical pain. Mara firmly planted her feet on the flooring and held onto the rail fashioned into the back wall as the lift continued to rattle and creak.

"No," she was amazed, realizing only too late that the sounds were from the lift being physically restrained from doing what it was mechanically built to do. She pressed her back tighter against the rear wall as the lift seemed to settle down with a final, shuddering groan. Loosening her grip on the small rail, Mara's hand slid closer to her lightsaber as she stepped toward the control panel of the door.  Deft fingers flew over the buttons, pushing them all just to try to get the lift going again. Her fingers froze on top of the control panels as the sealed turbolift doors began to slowly open, the sound of metal scraping against metal shrill and nerve wracking.

Her body rigid as her captor became visible from between the gray doors she knew he was manipulating; Mara could feel the first shiver of fear run up her spine as she locked eyes with the man she had, until now, felt certain she could control. Unable to break the gaze, Mara stared into the blue eyes that were dark with anger, a rage that was aimed directly at her.

Lord Skywalker stood only a few meters away, his feet spread on the walkway and his hands on each of his hips.  There was no strain on his facial muscles and Mara knew it was taking very little effort for him to hold the turbolift exactly where it was and pry the doors open, forcing her to face him now, here and on his terms.  A brief thought of pushing against him, overpowering him to make his release of the lift flickered across her mind but died away quickly when Luke smiled at her, her thoughts open to him.

You will not run from me, he whispered along their link as he took one step closer, his hand rising from his hip toward her. Not ever again, he promised as his fingers clenched into a fist in mid air.

Screeching as the lift suddenly, violently lurched, Mara was thrown against the back wall like a tossed rag doll. She couldn't control the anguished cry that escaped as her arm was smashed between the steel back wall and her own body.  Her head knocking against the same wall, Mara was dazed and unprepared for the turbolift to shift again as she barely managed to stay on her feet. Trying to cradle her injured arm, Mara screamed at her adversary as the sounds of ripping metal filled the air. "Stop it, Skywalker," she yelled, the heated words buried in the groans of the steel floor beginning to tear its way loose from the walls.  The very metal beneath her feet beginning to warp and twist, Mara's booted feet slid on the bucking floor and she tumbled to her knees. Pain shot up her arm once again her hands went out to steady herself against the moving floor.

On her hands and knees, Mara's head rose slightly and she stared through tangled strands of unbound hair at the man destroying the turbolift. She stared defiantly at the Dark Lord even as his clenched fist slowly opened and a slender finger began to gesture toward her, beckoning her to come closer.

"Never," she whispered, pushing the pain away as much she could to focus on the battle ahead. She started to push her way to her feet to defend herself, to mount a counter attack, but Luke wasn't done with her yet.

The floor buckled once more, the back of the mangled floor rising sharply, instantly, to catapult the stunned female assassin from inside what was left of the turbolift to the floor at Luke's feet.  His hand dropping, no concern for the destruction he had caused to metal or woman, Luke gazed down at the female who had landed in a grunting heap just in front of his boots. "I see I also need to teach you the correct way to kneel before me," his anger mixing with slight amusement at her predicament. "But first," reaching down, Luke's fingers closed over Mara's injured arm and he ignored the sharp pain he could feel run through her body, letting the spikes of agony wash over him and feed his anger. Mercilessly pulling Mara to her feet by her injured arm, the feeling of power mixing with pain made him stronger. “First, I will show you why you should never run from me."

Turning with Mara only halfway to her feet, Luke dragged the gasping woman behind him as he retraced his steps back toward the bridge where he knew everyone was watching. Stopping only after he had pointedly made eye contact with his father, showing the man who had spawned him exactly how he was taking care of Mara Jade.  Receiving approval by the slight nod of his father’s helmeted head, Luke felt the satisfaction rush through every pore of his body and he turned toward a door just to his left that hissed open by his command. With the anger flowing freely through him, Luke shoved Mara Jade inside the room, not caring as she crashed against the sparse furniture of the interrogation room.

.........to be continued..........